African App Launchpad Cup Applications Open Targeting 21 African Countries

IT Industry Development Agency (itidA) has partnered with Microsoft Egypt to host the 2020 African App Launchpad Cup pitch competition aimed at African startups focusing on app and game development has opened for applications across 21 African countries.

Eligible countries are Uganda, Rwanda, Togo, South Africa, Ghana, Egypt, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mauritania, Cameroon, Malawi, Madagascar,  Côte d’Ivoire, Angola, Chad, Rwanda, Senegal, The Gambia, Niger, Namibia, Nigeria, and Comoros.

African App Launchpad Cup 2020 is focused is running two competitive tracks on App development and Game Development.

Startups working on Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality or Game development can participate in the Game development track. However, the app. development track is for specific app developments irrespective of the underlying tech applied.

Projects are registered and submitted from October 15 to November 22, while the finalists are announced on the 30th of November. Interested participants can apply as teams of two or more, or as startups below 2 years of inception. A mandatory requirement for the programme is to have a working prototype.

The first three winners in each track get to win $12,000, $8,000 and $4,000. Four other finalist teams will get $1,000. Microsoft will reward the first winner of each track with a  go to market program for first placed winners. There will be a VC introduction from the Microsoft Network Africa networks.

Benefits of the AAL cup

• A free top-quality learning track is made accessible in one of the advanced app and game technologies.
• Teams will receive an international certificate after completing the learning track.
• An opportunity to attend a local learning group to understand cross-learning and how technologies impact a business.
• Opportunity for teams to join startup competitions to access possible seed funding or incubation services.
• Teams are up-to-date on Africa-wide employment opportunities.